Definitions for describe
dɪˈskraɪbde·scribe

Princeton's WordNet(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe, depict, drawverb

   give a description of

   "He drew an elaborate plan of attack"

2. report, describe, accountverb

   to give an account or representation of in words

   "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"

3. trace, draw, line, describe, delineateverb

   make a mark or lines on a surface

   "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand"

4. identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, nameverb

   identify as in botany or biology, for example

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. describeverb

   To represent in words.

   The feeling is difficult to describe, but not unpleasant.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

2. describeverb

   To give rise to a geometrical structure.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

3. describeverb

   To scientifically reveal a new species by technically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species.

   The fungus was first described by a botanist.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

Webster Dictionary(1.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describeverb

   to represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle

2. Describeverb

   to represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities

3. Describeverb

   to distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class

4. Describeverb

   to use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describe

   dē-skrīb′, v.t. to trace out or delineate: to give an account of.—adj. Describ′able.—n. Describ′er. [L. describĕre—de, down, and scribĕre, scriptum, to write.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe

   To create using words.

   They did describe how they felt and it was great to know they too were also happy and felt very loved.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 16, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Inform
   • Mark

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2425

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2430

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Verbs Frequency: #93

How to pronounce describe?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say describe in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of describe in a Sentence

1. Raymond Lowe:

   There's always going to be that desire to get out because it's the camaraderie that you find out here, it's hard to describe the feeling and how genuine everyone is and just how good it is to be able to help.

2. Barron Brooks:

   My father did this without my consent, i can’t even describe to you how embarrassing and ridiculous this is.

3. Karl Turner:

   It is difficult to get certain things in Egypt apparently so she'd taken talcum powder, shaving gel and razorblades and all sorts of things, Karl Turner told the BBC. Clearly, [ she was ] very, very nave. The family describe Laura to me as somebody who is very nave.

4. Tom Robbins:

   Using words to describe magic is like using a screwdriver to cut roast beef.

5. Ahmed Mohammed Amer:

   As our group started to head back, taking Road 204, another group, coming from Road 206, crossed our way, heavy pushing ensued. I'm at a loss of words to describe what happened. This massive pushing is what caused the high number of casualties among the pilgrims.

Images & Illustrations of describe

Popularity rank by frequency of use